Tag: Green Heron

Five-Years Ago (15-September-2013) — New Jersey

Late Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

I was stalking a small Green Heron at the local Sourland Mountain Preserve trying to get some images of it catching a fish or frog. All of a sudden there was a commotion in the middle of the pond. Two Canada Geese started a full out smackdown. It was like a junior high school fight. The other geese in the pond formed a circle and made noises supporting their team. The small Green Heron didn’t know what to think.

I used the images I took  (Nikon 1 V2 camera, FT1 adapter, and 180 mm f/2.8D lens) to create a short time-lapse video. The burst mode with the Nikon 1 V2 camera was really useful to get lots of images in a short period of time with all of the activity.

Wednesday (27-December-2017) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2017/2018 Road Trip Day 7: Birds.

After sunrise at Fort De Soto, we checked out the rich bird life in the park. The White Ibis and Green Heron were right in front of us when shooting the sunrise. On the way out of the park we saw an American White Pelican, and several Osprey. After returning to my parents home in St. Petersburg, I found a Red-bellied Woodpecker in a Carambola tree.

White Ibis at the edge of the water. Sunrise at Fort De Soto Park. Pinellas County, Florida Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 500, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)
White Ibis at the edge of the water. Sunrise at Fort De Soto Park. Pinellas County, Florida Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 500, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)


American White Pelican in the water at Fort De Soto Park. Pinellas County, Florida Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
American White Pelican in the water at Fort De Soto Park. Pinellas County, Florida Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)


Red-bellied Woodpecker in a Carambola tree. Backyard Winter Nature in Florida Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 1000, 400 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)
Red-bellied Woodpecker in a Carambola tree. Backyard Winter Nature in Florida Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 1000, 400 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)

Four-Years Ago (05-October-2012) — New Jersey

Autumn Nature in New Jersey: Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Green Heron swallowing a fish at a pond in the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR len + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 220, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec).

Green Heron Swallowing a Fish at a Pond in the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR len + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 220, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)
Green Heron Swallowing a Fish. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR len + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 220, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)

Sunday (21-August-2016) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

A Shy immature Green Heron in a Tree Next to the Pond at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 300 mm f/4 lens. Every time I walked around the pond this bird flew to the other side of the pond or up into a tree. It is so well camouflaged that I never see it until it flies away. I now know why the frogs are so skittish.

[Note I originally thought this was an American Bittern, now think it is an immature Green Heron.]

Immature Green Heron (originally thought it was an American Bittern). Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Immature Green Heron (originally thought it was an American Bittern). Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Immature Green Heron (originally thought it was an American Bittern). Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Immature Green Heron (originally thought it was an American Bittern). Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Immature Green Heron (originally thought it was an American Bittern). Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Immature Green Heron (originally thought it was an American Bittern). Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Immature Green Heron (originally thought it was an American Bittern). Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Immature Green Heron (originally thought it was an American Bittern). Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)

Tuesday (16-August-2016) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

I’ve seen this bird for the last few days. I thought is was a heron, but anytime I got within 100 feet it would fly to the other side of the pond and I was not fast enough to get an image. Today, I did get some images – but they are significantly cropped, and not all are in great focus. Once I saw its chest in the last images I knew it was an American Bittern. I need to go back with a bigger lens and maybe a tripod to get some better images.

The Reclusive American Bittern at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.  Images taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens.


Click on the above image to access the images in the slideshow.


Post note — I now think this is an immature Green Heron 24-August-2016.